Xabi Alonso has departed as Real Madrid head coach after just seven months, following a 3-2 defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final on Sunday. The club announced his exit by mutual consent on Monday evening, with former teammate Álvaro Arbeloa taking over on an interim basis.
Alonso's tenure began promisingly, with six consecutive La Liga wins and an impressive Clásico victory in October. However, performances soon deteriorated, and a run of two wins in eight games saw Madrid lose their five-point lead at the top of the table to fall four points behind Barcelona. Defeats to Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain, and Atlético Madrid compounded the pressure.
The 43-year-old former midfielder had been appointed in May on a contract until 2028, replacing Carlo Ancelotti after successful stints at Bayer Leverkusen. He requested several signings, including Martín Zubimendi, who ultimately joined Arsenal. Despite early promise, Madrid were eliminated from the Champions League by PSG and struggled to convince in domestic competitions.
Relationships with key players, notably Vinícius Júnior, also soured. The Brazilian stormed off after being substituted in one match and later apologised to everyone except Alonso. The club did little to reinforce Alonso's authority, and despite a brief improvement, Sunday's Super Cup defeat proved the final straw.
Arbeloa, a former Real Madrid and Liverpool defender, steps up from coaching Castilla, Madrid's B team. He has been part of the club's coaching setup since 2020 and enjoyed a successful playing career, winning two Champions Leagues and multiple titles with Madrid and Spain.
